08 LC 25
5094
House
Bill 1016
By:
Representatives Lane of the
158th,
Burns of the
157th,
Knight of the
126th,
and Jerguson of the
22nd
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 27-4-151 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the use of crab traps, identification of boats or vessels, and closure of
salt waters, so as to provide the commissioner of natural resources the ability
to manage certain aspects of the blue crab resource; to provide an effective
date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 27-4-151 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the use
of crab traps, identification of boats or vessels, and closure of salt waters,
is amended by revising subsection (j) as follows:
"(j)
The commissioner shall have the power to close all or any portion of the
saltwaters
salt
waters of this state to commercial and
recreational fishing for blue crabs or any component of the blue crab fishery,
including peeler, soft, or sponge
crabs, in
the event of flood, drought, disease, or any other emergency situation or in the
event of a disaster or other occurrence likely to cause seafood to be unfit for
human consumption. Any determination to
close the
saltwaters
salt
waters pursuant to this subsection or to
reopen such waters shall be made in accordance with current, sound principles of
wildlife research and management as provided by Code Section
27-4-130."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.